media releases - Unisa researchers appointed to prestigious science academy

Three researchers from the University of South Africa were recently appointed members of the prestigious Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).

Launched in 1996 with then-President Nelson Mandela as its patron, Assaf aspires to be the apex organisation for science and scholarship in South Africa, recognised and connected both nationally and internationally. Through its membership, which represents the collective voice of the most active scholars in all fields of scholarly enquiry, ASSAf aims to generate evidence-based solutions to national problems.

Its key objective is to promote and apply scientific thinking in the service society. It aims, amongst others, to remove barriers between people and obstacles to enable full development of researchers’ optimal intellectual capacity; inspire, promote and recognise excellence in scientific and technical practice; as well as promote science education and a culture of science.

The newly-appointed members from Unisa are Professors Malose Mphahlele, Jane Carruthers and Alan Weinberg.

Professor Malose Mphahlele is a National Research Foundation (NRF) C2-rated researcher and chairs Unisa’s Department of Chemistry. The main thrust of his research is directed towards the synthesis, structural property and biological activity studies of heteroam-containing compounds such as quinolone derivatives, benzoheterazepine analogues, et cetera.        

Professor Alan Weinberg is an Emeritus Professor and the first NRF A-rated researcher from Unisa’s College of Human Sciences. He has also served on the NRF Panel for Literature, Language and Linguistics, which he chaired in 2007.

Professor Jane Carruthers, an NRF B1-rated researcher, is with the Department of History at Unisa. She is one of South Africa’s first environmental historians and has published widely the topic. Her other fields of research include the history of science, colonial art, cartography and comparative Australian-South African history. 

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